What should replace OfficeMax and Rite Aid in Placerville??

 

 Since Rite Aid has closed their Fair Lane store recently and OfficeMax is about to close their store in Placerville, I bet you are asking the question, "What will replace it??" I am writing my own possibilities of what this store could become. Before I list my possibilities and before you share your opinion of what should replace this store, here are some core facts about the Placerville market I have researched:

Population of the trade area: 

in its 5-mile radius: 39,245

in its 10-mile radius: 54,328 

in its 20-mile radius: 98,556

Income of the trade area:

$78,333 (U.S. Average income is $69,000)

Here are some stores or businesses either Rite Aid or OfficeMax could become since these listed stores are absent from the Placerville area that are growing at a fair amount that Placerville could support:

Planet Fitness- seems like the most likely fit. There isn't really any large fitness places in town. Unless you count Anytime Fitness and Snap Fitness. 

Smart and Final Extra- This store seems like it is popular and growing. But there is already a Grocery Outlet which is very similar to this store in East Placerville. 

99 Cent Only Store- I don't know about this one. 99 Cent Only doesn't seem like it is growing all that much and has closed a couple local locations, most recently one in Carmichael. But 99 Cent Only does seem like a popular discount chain and Placerville seems like a fit place for a 99 Cent Only store. 

Burlington Coat Factory- This store has been opening many stores around the region and is even opening stores the size of this Rite Aid space, which is about 28,000 sq ft. And Placerville seems like a decent sized market for this store. 

Michaels-Since Placerville doesn't have a large arts and crafts store, I think this could be a good fit for Placerville. But I hear they are looking at the Crossings at El Dorado to open a store. If they don't go through for this project

JoAnn Fabrics- As I said about Michaels, JoAnn's could be a good fit if Michaels doesn't come. But it would be up in the air since JoAnn sounds like they are in financial troubles with debt and actually were rated at a higher risk to file for bankruptcy than Rite Aid according to the Retail Dive. Shocking, especially for a store that has done so well especially during the pandemic. 

Staples- They aren't a growing retailer. In fact, they have closed as many stores as OfficeMax/Depot have. But since OfficeMax's closure might be a result of having a weak presence in the Sacramento market (they only operate 4 stores in the area including the one mentioned) and wanting to refocus on larger cities, maybe it could give hope that another office supply store could operate here. Staples has a stronger presence in the Sacramento area and a larger distribution network and there aren't really any other major electronic stores in the market. Unless you count the local Bliss Electronics in Diamond Springs, or count Folsom 15 miles down the road with Best Buy, Staples, and Costco as being in the market. But I don't know if office supply stores will be in markets Placerville's size for too much longer. Which brings me the question, will Office Depot/Max/Staples still have more stores, or will Best Buy or Barnes and Noble have more in a few years??

Best Buy- They aren't really a growing retailer either and they have tended to avoid markets Placerville's size. They do operate in Auburn, which is close to Placerville's size. But since Best Buy operates close by in Folsom, I do not personally see this one happening. But maybe it isn't completely out of the realm of possibility??: https://www.wcnc.com/article/tech/best-buy-store-digital-first-pilot-program-monroe/275-7efdf675-4a96-4b44-bc6f-77343df0f6b5.

Hobby Lobby- This seems like a long shot, because this space is too small and Big Lots would have to close also in order to get this project. 

Sprouts Farmers Market- This chain has been opening several stores, but since this store is a more upscale health food grocery store, I'm not sure Placerville's demographics fit those required for a Sprouts. 

Sportsman's Warehouse- This might be a good store for Placerville since it is a rural area and it is a popular area for recreation. So a hunting and fishing store might do well in Placerville. 

An indoor trampoline park with an indoor jungle gym- We don't have any of those in Placerville. In fact, the only serious indoor jungle gym in the county is the McDonald's PlayPlace at the Broadway location in East Placerville, since the demise of Carl's Jr Playland at the Cameron Park location (it was an outdoor one, but still a jungle gym): https://haydenbusinessblog.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-secret-rise-and-fall-of-west-coast.html.  For trampoline parks, you have to head down to the Sacramento and Roseville areas. 

Since the Prospectors Plaza is a more popular retail area, the Grocery Outlet center is getting a makeover, and the Crossings at El Dorado project seems like it might be moving forward, it might be a bit tricky for these spaces to get new stores. But since Placerville is a fairly underbuilt retail area, it seems like a good opportunity for redevelopment.  I am curious, "what businesses do you want to see come to this space or come to Placerville as a whole?? 

Thank you for taking the time to read my post and God bless.

              For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.                                                John 3:16